Tilt-turn toy



March 21, 1950 G. s. BRACKETT, JR 2,501,206

TILT-TURN TOY Filed March 29, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 231, 1950 s, BRACKETT, R 2,501,206

TILT-TURN TOY Filed March 29, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 a 1 vumvkyb Patented Mar. 21, 1950 UNITED". STAT ES at ENT ov:1=i=,

TILT-TURN Tor GeorgeSJBrackett, Jia, Waynesbormfa;

Application March 29, 1M5, Serial No. 585,495

fi-Clainis. 1

My invention relates'to a wheeled toy, and-it is an object of the same to provide a toy that can be steered with accuracy and satisfaction through the operation of manual propelling means.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for attachment or any one of a plurality of propelling means in different positions, each of which propelling means will serve as a steering means when located on the toy in the manner intended.

Another object is to provide a toy that can steer itself b merely being tilted when in use.

Another object is to provide a self-steering toy with simple means to limit the tilting movement of the body or chassis whereby the steering is efiected.

Another object is to provide a toy vehicle such as herein described with means to permit the rear. axle to remain in normal positionwith its wheels on the floor, even though its, body be tilted laterally for steering the vehicle.

Another object is to provide a wheeled-toy that can move freely over uneven ground or over low obstacles, without jolting or upsetting, due to the freedom of movement of the axles.

Another object is to provide improved means for connecting a trailer to-a Wheeled toy vehicle.

Another object is to provide a toy or the character described herein, which toy shall be of very simple and inexpensive construction, yet not flimsy, and in which the chassis may consist of solid wood or metal, or may be in one or two unitary sheet-metal members.

Referring now to the drawings, which are made a part of this application and in which similar reference char-caters indicate similar parts:

Fig. 1 is a plan of one form of the invention,

Fig. 2, a side elevation of the same,

Fig. 3, a section on line 3-3 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 4, a section on line 4-4 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 5, a side elevation of a modified form, partly in section,

Fig. 6, a top plan of the rear portion of the toy vehicle shown in Fig. 5,

Fig. '7, a section on line l--'! of Fig. 5, and

Fig. 8, an elevation of a. control handle.

In the drawings, reference character H] indicates the chassis or body of a toy vehicle having front wheels H, H and rear wheels l2, l2. The front wheels are mounted for free rotation on an axle 83, which in turn is mounted for oscillatory movement about an inclined pivot 14, which is inclined at preferably about 35 to the vertical. The axle i3 is located, with reference to the body of the toy, in a downwardly facing V-shaped notch in the bottom of said body, which is here indicated as being a solid body 'of wood or other suitable or convenient-material,though-a .h'ollowbody of sheet-metal, eitherin-one-p-iec or in several rigidly united'parts, maybe substituted. The front face-of the notchprovides-e steering face 15 at an angle -of"a'bout"55'-to-the vertical by reason of its cam-action'on-tlre aide that rests against it and is so'held by=the-pivot pin It, whereas the rear face l6- ac-ts* as a stop to limit the oscillati-onof the" axle in eithensense about its pivot Hi.

The'rear wheels I2; I? are mounted'at opposite ends of an axle i'i for free rotation-thereon, said axle being .rnounted on 'a--horizontal* pivot l8 'so thatthe body it can be tilted-withoutraising the wheels off the floor or other supporting surface. The axle is located-with reference-to the body H3, in a transverse notch in saidbody, and the upper flat face of said notchservesas a stop to limit the tilting of the "body with'respect to the axle and its wheels.

The propulsion and steering of the vehicleimay be effected in any one of several ways','-and for this purpose I have shown two loops or staples '20, 2 l, atthe topof the body, one at theforward end and the other directlyasbove the center of mass, to either one of which there maybe"attached a cord or string or the'like 22"with aball 23 or, other suitable handle .or griprat'its 'end for convenience in grasping thersame. Attachment of such a cord to the loop '2l-is1usually deemed preferable, since that places the-pointer attachment directly over the, centerdfqmass of the toy, whic'h'is of advantageinthatthevehicle may be lifted ,off the floor and "whenireplaced it will at once stand on allfour wheels again, and it will also keep its balance better while being moved about and in being tilted for steering purposes. It will be obvious that a mere tilting of the chassis to one side or the other by pulling the cord will cause the steering surface I5 to cam the axle l3 in one sense or the other, and so will cause the front wheels to change their relation to the vehicle body, the one moving backward and the other forward with relation thereto, thus steering the vehicle to one side or the other of its path, the direction and amount of veering depending on the direction of pull and on its amount and the resulting tilt of the chassis.

The tilting of the chassis is limited by the engagement of the axle with the rear face l6 of the notch, said face forming a stop for the axle in either direction of tilt of the chassis and thus limiting the amount of possible change of direction and preventing upsets. The tilting of the chassis at the rear end of the vehicle in either direction is limited by engagement of the rear axle I! with the upper face of the notch at the rear of the vehicle, at [9.

A simulation of a steering wheel is provided at 24, but this feature has no function aside from improvement in appearance of the toy and increase in resemblance to a motor vehicle.

An inclined socket is provided at 25 for insertion of a steering handle or post (Fig. 8) comprising a lower member 26 to which is pivoted an extension 21 with a ball or other grip thereon at its upper end, which handle may serve for propulsion and steering of the vehicle when placed in the socket 25. It will be understood that only one steering and propulsion member will ordinarily be provided on the vehicle at a time, but all three may be permitted to remain in place if desired.

In that form of the invention shown in Figs. to 7 the body 38 is provided with means at 31 and 32 for attachment of a cord 83 that may carry a grip 34. A front axle 35 with wheels 36 at its ends is mounted on an inclined pivot 31 passing through the steering surface 38 at the front of the inverted V-shaped notch in the lower part of the body and the rear wall of the notch at 39 provides a stop surface for the axle. All of these parts are, or may be, as in the form of the invention first described.

The body 30 terminates short of the rear axle 40, which is mounted in a rear axle assembly block 4| and which carries wheels 42 and 43 mounted to rotate on the axle 40, this axle preferably fitting tight in the hole provided therefor in the block 4!. The block is fixed to the body 30 by means of a pin 45 located about midway between two shoulders 46, M, on the block, which shoulders serve as stops permittin the body 30 to swing about the pin 65 but limiting its movement to either side. The block has an overhang at its rear to protect and conceal the headed end of pin 45. Forwardly of the overhang the block is provided with a socket 49 to receive a pin or hook or the like fo connecting a trailer to the vehicle in convenient manner.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that many changes may be made in my device, all without departing from the spirit of the invention, and therefore I do not limit myself to what is shown in the drawings and described in the specification, but only as indicated in the appended claims. For example, the block 4! might have integral projections to carry the wheels instead of a separate rear axle 40.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim is:

l. A wheeled vehicle having a two-piece chassis, comprising front and rear chassis membars, a front axle on which the front chassis member is laterally tiltable, connections whereby the vehicle is steered when the front chassis member is tilted, and means connecting the rear chassis member to the front member so as to permit the front member to tilt without tilting the rear member.

2. A device as in claim 1, said means comprising a horizontal pivot pin.

3. A device as in claim 1, said rear chassis member having stops thereon to limit tilting movement of the front chassis member.

4. A device as in claim 1, said rear chassis member having an upwardly-opening socket for connection to a trailer or the like.

5. In a wheeled toy vehicle, a one-piece chassis with downwardly facing notches in its under face, axles in said notches, said axles being pivoted to the chassis to permit the chassis to tilt with reference to the axles, means actuated by the tilting of the chassis for turning the front axis to steer the vehicle, a string attached to the body above the front axle to propel the vehicle and also to tilt the chassis and thereby to steer the vehicle, the forward notch being V-shaped, and an inclined pivot holding the front axle in contact with the forward face of the notch, the rear face of the said notch limiting the relative tilting of the chassis with respect to the front axle.

6. In a wheeled toy vehicle, a chassis, front and rear axles on the chassis, a downwardly opening V-shaped notch at the under side of the chassis, an inclined pivot projecting from said face and supporting the front axle in contact with the forward face of said notch, means connecting the rear axle tiltably to the chassis, and a string connected to the chassis above the front axle for propelling the vehicle and fo tilting the chassis to one side or the other relatively to its axles, whereby the connection between the chassis and the front axle causes the said axle to turn and thus to steer the vehicle.

GEORGE S. BRACKETT, JR.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date McHenry Oct. 1, 1940 Number 

